Category: Anna Belfrage

#TimeTravel: The Graham Saga from Anna Belfrage

11/16/2017

If you are a fan of #timetravel fiction and have not yet discovered the Graham saga from Anna Belfrage, you are in for a treat.
Read on and go in the contest to win the complete set of the Graham books!

Please follow Anna Belfrage as her beloved Graham Saga series is blasted around the blogosphere!

About The Graham Saga Series

This is the story of Alex and Matthew, two people who should never have met - not when she was born three hundred years after him. It all began the day Alex Lind got caught in a thunderstorm. Not your ordinary storm, no this was the mother of all storms, causing a most unusual rift in the fabric of time. Alex was dragged three centuries backwards in time, landing more or less at the feet of a very surprised Matthew Graham. In a series of books we follow the life and adventures of the expanding Graham family, both in Scotland and in the New World - and let me tell you it is quite an exciting life, at times excessively so in Alex' opinion. Sometimes people ask me why Alex had to be born in the twentieth century, why not make her a woman born and bred in the seventeenth century where the story is set? The answer to that is I have no idea. Alex Lind is an insistent, vibrant character that sprung into my head one morning and simply wouldn't let go. Seductively she whispered about terrible thunderstorms, about a gorgeous man with magic, hazel eyes, about loss and sorrow, about love - always this love, for her man and her children, for the people she lives with. With a throaty chuckle she shared insights into a life very far removed from mine, now and then stopping to shake her head and tell me that it probably hadn't been easy for Matthew, to have such an outspoken, strange and independent woman at his side. At this point Matthew groaned into life. Nay, he sighed, this woman of his was at times far too obstinate, with no notion of how a wife should be, meek and dutiful. But, he added with a laugh, he wouldn't want her any different, for all that she was half heathen and a right hand-full. No, he said, stretching to his full length, if truth be told not a day went by without him offering fervent thanks for his marvelous wife, a gift from God no less, how else to explain the propitious circumstances that had her landing at his feet that long gone August day? Still, dear reader, it isn't always easy. At times Alex thinks he's an overbearing bastard, at others he's sorely tempted to belt her. But the moment their fingertips graze against each other, the moment their eyes meet, the electrical current that always buzzes between them peaks and surges, it rushes through their veins, it makes their breathing hitch and ... She is his woman, he is her man. That's how it is, that's how it always will be.

Graham Saga Titles

Book One: A Rip in the Veil Book Two: Like Chaff in the Wind Book Three: The Prodigal Son Book Four: A Newfound Land Book Five: Serpents in the Garden Book Six: Revenge & Retribution Book Seven: Whither Thou Goest Book Eight: To Catch a Falling Star Book Nine: There is Always a Tomorrow (November 2017)

About the Author

Anna was raised abroad, on a pungent mix of Latin American culture, English history and Swedish traditions. As a result she's multilingual and most of her reading is Anna Belfragehistorical- both non-fiction and fiction. Possessed of a lively imagination, she has drawers full of potential stories, all of them set in the past. She was always going to be a writer - or a historian, preferably both. Ideally, Anna aspired to becoming a pioneer time traveller, but science has as yet not advanced to the point of making that possible. Instead she ended up with a degree in Business and Finance, with very little time to spare for her most favourite pursuit. Still, one does as one must, and in between juggling a challenging career Anna raised her four children on a potent combination of invented stories, historical debates and masses of good food and homemade cakes. They seem to thrive… For years she combined a challenging career with four children and the odd snatched moment of writing. Nowadays Anna spends most of her spare time at her writing desk. The children are half grown, the house is at times eerily silent and she slips away into her imaginary world, with her imaginary characters. Every now and then the one and only man in her life pops his head in to ensure she's still there. For additional information regarding Anna, her characters, extra scenes, and teasers for her next books, have a look at Anna's website at: www.annabelfrage.com. You can also find her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.

Book Blast Schedule

Monday, November 6 Pursuing Stacie The Reading Queen Locks, Hooks and Books Tuesday, November 7 T's Stuff Susan Heim on Writing Wednesday, November 8 Bookish So Many Books, So Little Time Thursday, November 9 Let Them Read Books Friday, November 10 History From a Woman's Perspective Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots Saturday, November 11 A Holland Reads Sunday, November 12 A Chick Who Reads Monday, November 13 CelticLady's Reviews What Is That Book About Tuesday, November 14 A Literary Vacation Historical Fiction with Spirit Mello & June, It's a Book Thang! Wednesday, November 15 The Maiden's Court Adventures Thru Wonderland Thursday, November 16 Carole Rae's Random Ramblings Ms. Stuart Requests the Pleasure of Your Company Friday, November 17 Book Nerd Saturday, November 18 Passages to the Past The Book Junkie Reads Sunday, November 19 Books, Dreams, Life Monday, November 20 The Lit Bitch Jorie Loves a Story

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour we will be giving away Books #1-8 in paperback to one lucky winner! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below. Giveaway Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on November 20th. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. – Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

Bathing in medieval style- with Anna Belfrage

5/20/2017

Last week I introduced you to Anna Belfrage and her latest book set in the world of Edward II - UNDER THE APPROACHING DARK. (Click HERE to go to the post)

I have invited Anna back this week to talk a little bit more about the research behind her fabulous books, because all historical writers have a wealth of knowledge that may only make it into the story as a passing mention. I enjoyed seeing how Anna used it in her book.

Anna has chosen to share some interesting, and little known facts, about the medieval monarchs' predilection (or not) for the occasional bath...

A Good Medieval Wallow...

It is strange how some myths become so cemented in the popular imagination they take on the character of truths. Mind you, in this day of alternative facts, such things are no longer surprising—they are merely irritating. When it comes to life in medieval times, there is this preconception that people never washed—one purportedly serious site about life in castles even goes so far as to state that “until Victorian times cleanliness was considered ungodly”. Hmm. As I researched my latest book, I encountered multiple indications this is wrong. Very wrong, even.

It has always been my firm opinion that most people—throughout the ages—have preferred being clean to being dirty. In many of the preceding periods, being clean was also an indication of wealth as it required a not inconsiderable amount of servants and firewood to prepare a nice hot bath in medieval times. But even those who could not afford a bath, or to change their clothes regularly, did wash face, hands and privates.

Those who could afford it, went all out on cleanliness. Medieval banquets often started by the guests being offered basins of clean water in which to wash their hands. Medieval ladies and lords changed their linen frequently, and they most definitely bathed. King John is supposed to have taken a bath every two weeks, and clearly his descendants shared his fondness for lounging in hot water while someone scrubbed their backs. How else to explain the fact that Edward II had his bathrooms tiled and then complained the floors were too cold so he ordered bathroom mats to increase his comfort? Or that in 1351 Edward III ordered hot and cold water taps for his recently refurbished bathroom? I’m telling you, those medieval magnates liked a good wallow—and smelling of roses afterwards!

About UNDER THE APPROACHING DARK

Adam de Guirande has cause to believe the turbulent times are behind him: Hugh Despenser is dead and Edward II has been forced to abdicate in favour of his young son. It is time to look forward, to a bright new world in which the young king, guided by his council, heals his kingdom and restores its greatness. But the turmoil is far from over… After years of strife, England in the early months of 1327 is a country in need of stability, and many turn with hope towards the new young king, Edward III. But Edward is too young to rule, so instead it is his mother, Queen Isabella, and her lover, Roger Mortimer, who do the actual governing, much to the dislike of barons such as Henry of Lancaster. In the north, the Scots take advantage of the weakened state of the realm and raid with impunity. Closer to court, it is Mortimer’s increasing powers that cause concerns – both among his enemies, but also for men like Adam, who loves Mortimer dearly, but loves the young king just as much. When it is announced that Edward II has died in September of 1327, what has so far been a grumble grows into voluble protests against Mortimer. Yet again, the spectre of rebellion haunts the land, and things are further complicated by the reappearance of one of Adam’s personal enemies. Soon enough, he and his beloved wife Kit are fighting for their survival – even more so when Adam is given a task that puts them both in the gravest of dangers. Under the Approaching Dark is the third in Anna Belfrage’s series, The King’s Greatest Enemy, the story of a man torn apart by his loyalties to his lord, his king, and his wife.

Read an excerpt...

It was well after nightfall before Kit could claim her husband for herself. Once Meg had been properly greeted, once he’d held both Ned and Harry, he’d done the rounds in the household, spent hours with William reviewing the state of his property, and had then presided over dinner, a loud affair in the main hall that had only ended when the afternoon seeped into dusk.
William had insisted they all attend chapel, but when he suggested that Adam and he repair yet again to review the accounts, Kit put her foot down.
“Not tonight.” She held out her hand to Adam. “I have a bath prepared for you.” Besides, she wanted to do a thorough inspection, disconcerted by the new scars on his face.
Stephen added the last of the hot water to the tub just as they entered the solar. Steam rose in wisps, filling the room with the scents of lavender and roses. Kit shooed the page out, closed and barred the door, and turned to look at her husband, already disrobing in front of the hearth. She moved towards him, couldn’t resist the urge to touch him, to splay her fingers wide as she set her hands to his chest, just over his heart. Beneath her palm, she felt his heartbeat, above her fingers was a new scar, pink and hairless.
“What’s this?”
“A lance.” He sounded offhand, undoing his braies.
“A lance?”
Adam sighed. “I was jousting against Lord Roger.” She listened in silence as he told her about the steel-tipped lance and how he was convinced the intention had been to kill Lord Roger.
“Kill him? By your hand?” She slid an arm up to his shoulder, followed the contours of his muscled arm downwards. “And this?” She set her other hand to his face, tracing the scar along his nose, the other below his ear.
“Same incident.” He hooked a finger into her neckline. “Aren’t you joining me?”
“It’s the small tub.”
“We will fit, sweeting.” Deft hands on her laces, and soon enough they were in the tub, she enfolded in his arms and legs. His hands slid up to cup her breasts. “William said it was a difficult birth.”
“It was.” Kit’s stomach tightened in recollection. She craned her head back to look at him. “But it was worth it.” This her third son was an easy child, eating like a horse at regular intervals, in between which he either slept or regarded the world around him with wide-open eyes—grey eyes.
“A beautiful son.” He kissed the top of her head. “Thank you.”

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